stowell



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet '1. G. E. STOWB LL.

\ q HARNESS ATTAOHMENT.

No. 574,586. Patented Jan. 5, 1897 QZMW m f ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) T 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. STOWELL. HARNESS ATTACHMENT.

No. 574,586. Patented-Jan. 5, 1897.

. IIIIIIIIIIIunmnnnnmnun WITNESSES: IIVVE/VTOR MQbM K Mam ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES STOIVELL, OF LOCKES MILLS, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERTE. POWERS, OF SAME PLACE.

HARNESS ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,586, dated January5, 1897. Application filed April 30, 1896. Serial No. 589,684. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. SToWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lockes Mills, in the county of Oxford and State of Maine,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Harnesses, of-

whiclrthe following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a harness which shall be moreconveniently and accurately adjusted to different horses and carriagesand at the same time shall be stronger and more durable. It isapplicable, in whole or in part, to both light and heavy harness andSaddlery of the kinds in common use and to devices of analogousconstruction used in the care and training of horses.

My invention consists, primarily, in an improved construction of thoseparts of the harness which require considerable adjustment as to length,whereby I am enabled to dispense with the use of buckles with tongues ortheir equivalents and to hold the parts in place by a balancedfrictional grip which does not cut, break, .or puncture the leather.

My invention further comprises various as sociated features which arehereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention as applied to alight driving-harness.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the complete harness fitted to a horse.Fig. 2 is a perspective showing part of a checkrein. Fig. 3 is a sectionthrough a strap and a sliding frictional buckle. Fig. 4 shows that endof a trace which is attached to the whiffletree. Fig. 5 shows abreeching and pair of holdback-straps.

In the figures, 1 is a strap doubled upon itself to form a loop. 2is thesliding frictional buckle, made from a single piece of metal cast orpressed into the shape shown. 3 is a roller or polished bar forequalizingthc pull on the two halves of the loop.

In Fig. 3, a is a cross-bar around which the strap 1 is fastened by ascrew and nut 0. b, c, and (l are cross-bars about which the strap 1 isfolded back and forth. These bars have blunt rounded edges, the limitingcondition being that the cross-section of the edge shall have so large aradius of curvature that there is no danger of cutting or permanentlydenting the strap, and the distance apart of the bars 5 0 cl should havesuch a ratio to the thickness of the strap that bending it about themshall not so stretch its outer surface as to make it liable to crack. Bydisregarding these conditions it would be possible to obtain a firm gripWit-l1 fewer cross-bars. On the other hand, with very thick straps goodresults would be obtained by increasing both the number of the crossbarsand their distance apart.

The cheek-pieces m n are preferably of such a depth as to project beyondthe strap on both sides.

Where the strap fits over a curved surface the piece 2 may be curved tocorrespond.

The equalizing-roller 3 should have its diameter so proportioned to thethickness of the strap that is bent over it that the outer surface ofthe strap will not be stretched to the cracking-point.

It is essential to the proper working of my improved harness that theseequalizing-rollers 3 should very closely equalize the pull on the twohalves of each loop. For this reason a rod ought not to be substituedfor a roller, except where the strap is thin enough to permit the use ofone that is both small in diameter and smoothly polished.

If the loop passes around alarge pin or one having a rough surface, itwill stick to it, and when the direction of pull changes a little 8 onehalf of the loop will tighten and the other slacken, instead ofequalizing the strain by slipping over the pin. \Vhen this happens, thefrictional buckle 2 will be liable to loosen and slip. Thereforeanything. substituted for a roller must be equally free from side pull.

In Fig. 1 a harness is shown made adjustable in the manner abovespecified as follows: At A, the side strap of the bridle, for thepurpose of quickly shifting the position of the bit in adjusting thebridle to different horses, at B for conveniently shifting the length ofthe checkrein, at O for adjusting the height of the breast-plate, at Dfor adjusting the length of the back-strap,at E for adj usting theheight of the breeching, at F and F for adjusting the length of theholdback-strap, which I make continuous with the breeching, at H and Hfor changing the length of the traces, which I make continuous with thebreastplate.

In constructing and using my improved harness I first provide myselfwith sliding frictional buckles 2 and rollers 3, which are carefullyproportioned, as above specified, to the thickness of the differentstraps. I then pass each strap 1 through its corresponding frictionalbuckle 2, weaving it back and forth over the bars I), c, and d. 1 nextpass the free end around the roller 3 and fasten it to the bar a by thescrew and nut o.

If the sliding grip has the construction above specified and is rightlyproportioned to the strap, it can be readily slipped to the proper placefor the length of loop desired, and at the same time will be held sotightly that it will not move if the strap is shaken when hanging loose.If the working strain is now put upon the strap, it will be equallydivided between the two halves of the loop if the roller 8 or itsequivalent has been adjusted to the thickness of the strap in the mannerspecified; and the friction of the sliding frictional buckle will thenalways be greater than the pull on the half of the loop which isattached to the bar a.

\Vhen it is necessary to use the harness with a different horse ordifferent carriage, each strap can be adjusted to its new position by asingle movement of the hand and will be equally as firm as before.

IV hen it is desired to take the harness apart, the clamping-screw 0 isremoved from each strap and the sliding frictional buckle 2 slipped off.

In applying my invention to other parts of harness or horse equipmentthan those shown it is only necessary to bear in mind that the bars I),c, and d have their working edges rounded in proportion to thickness ofstrap, as above specified, and that they are placed at such a distanceapart that the strap will not slip when shaken, but will yield to amoderate pull on the buckle. Underthese conditions it will never slip inuse. It is further desirable that the part of the strap which isattached to the harness should pass out from the under side of thefrictional buckle.

Having now fully described my invention and the manner of using it, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a harness the combination of a strap doubled upon itself to form aloop, a roller about which the strap is folded, a transverse bar upon asliding frictional buckle to which the free end of the loop is fastened,and a series of transverse bars in the sliding fric tional buckle aboutwhich the strap is folded back and forth; all combined with each othersubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a harness, a connect-ion between two of its parts in which aroller attached to one of the parts is combined with a strap attached tothe other part and folded about it in a loop, a sliding frictionalbuckle with three or more transverse bars about which the strap isfolded back and forth, and a screw and nut by which the strap isfastened to another transverse bar of the sliding frictional buckle, allas set forth.

3. In a harness, a strap doubled upon itself to form a loop, incombination with means for equalizing the strain in the two halves ofthe loop, a series of transverse bars in a sliding frictional buckleabout which the strap at one end of the loop is bent back and forth, anda transverse bar at the end of the frictional buckle which has such aposition in relation to the loop, that when the free end of the loop isfastened to it, the two halves of the loop will be there drawn tightlytogether if under strain; all as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence ofwitnesses, this 24th day of April, 1896.

CHARLES E. STOWEIJL. lVitnesses:

ALMON ROBINSON, C. V. EMERSON.

